New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-31
DIR. THoMPSOYS CLAIM WORTHLESS.
THE MINIS rER's SON WILL PROBABLY GET NONE or
MR.. VAN BoKKELENs INDEMNITY.

To TRIBUNE reporter Yesterday, W. X. Van Box
kelen. who lives at No. sol Cllnton-ave, Brooklyn,
told tho following story Of his sons imprisonment
and death at Port Prince, Hayt and OF tho codi-
Gil sad been made to his viii Just before his
death In favor Of the infant OF United Statos Min
ister Thompson. The late Mr. Van Bobhelen first
went 20 Hayti In 1867, being then about twenty-five
years old. He remained thero but "A fow months and
then returned TO New-York In 1869 he was APP
pointed Haytien Consul at New-York and occupied
that position for six years, during which time he
frequently went back and forth between New-Yorll
and Hnyti. At the end Of that time, the Admins
traton Of Haytl changing, he was removed from his
position.
He then went to Hayu and entered into mcrcan-
tile pur.uts. In 1882, knowing that he some
what In debt and uncertain TO his rights In Hayu
hs an American citizen, ho applied TO Mr. Erchnghuy-
sen then Secretary Of state. know whether he was
linbo 90 imprisonment for debt II he remained In
Hayu. Tho debts were partly contracted in Hayti
and partly at Ncw-York. Secretary Frclinghuysen
Informed him that under tho existing treaty he had
the law Of Iiayti for6ids the ,prIsonmcnt OF Hay
usn eniyn for debt Mr. Van hokkeien thought MN hlnl-
later oweyer Ia lsSa he Tas va; -ensd ana mfowh v
treatment iIis being brought TO tho attcn-
ton Of the State Department 10y cx-Minstcr Langs-
ton tho Government demanded his instant release
aud also the payment ~ $4,000 indemnity. IIc
wa released aud Tho ilaytla Goyernment paid debts
for Indemnity Is stun pending.
In August, l5o5, after h, release from prison. Mr.
Van lskkelo Ia New York for short VISIT
and while here 'Ialo assignment Of his claim
against Hayu TO parties I'm Now York, "a decd "a
trust He then returned To lIayu and died uhcrc ON
November /, 1889, his death being due In large
measure to his imprisonment. On March 20, l771,
a physician sf POrt Prince wrote To tho Rev. Dr.
l. van BokSocn, rector Of Trinity Churcn In Buffalo,
stating that Aii Van Okelen hal just pGytous 10 his
doath made cofcll giving 10 per cent Of the claim
to the son of Minister Thompson. ". *. Van BOX
kclcn. however, attaches importance 10 this COD
lcl. which he says cannot be appended TO his sous
VIII. as his left will, but To the Assignment
before mentioned. such "a document" Mr. Van BOkbc-
leu said. would have no force My son made an out
right Assignment, deed Of trust, TO certain per
sons In Ncw-YOlk whom do not wish to mention:
and he could not change that by cOdcil, any more
than could sell house and lot one day ana the
ncNt gvo away the lot to thlri person.
"Then You have no charge % make AGAINST MIN
Thompson. and do not propose 70 lay the case
before the state Department ~ was asked.
"Cerllnly not" was tho answer. 81 haNo only
one complaint to make OF Minister Thompson, and
that j. that he has given no report Of any such
claim on tho indemnity fund, which, as an
Officer of tho Government, engaged In prosecuting
-uit I think he ought 10 have done, nor has he
given any Information. though have written
him three times As for the cOdlcl, | don't care
whether there l. or not for II thcn Is II Is good
for nothing"
one result ~ the imprisonment OF Mr. Van Boil,e-
lon T. that the Haytian Government has since his
release pascal n law absolutely prohibiting the Inn
pli-orment OF any person. liaytan citizen or for
cgncr FOR debt.